Emergency radio beacon remote activation system

Abstract

Provided is a system 10 for remote activation of an emergency radio beacon by a Search and Rescue (SAR) party, the system 10 comprising a controller 12 operatively arranged in signal communication with an emergency radio beacon 14, a positioning module 16 arranged in signal communication with the controller 12 and configured to operatively provide spatial positioning data to the controller 12, and a receiver 18 arranged in signal communication with the controller 12 and configured to operatively receive an activation signal 20. The controller 12 is configured to activate the beacon 14 upon receipt of the activation signal 20 and to provide the spatial positioning data of a potentially lost or distressed party to the beacon 14 for transmission along with an emergency signal 22.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for remote activation of emergency radio beacons for locating a potentially distressed or lost user of one of said emergency radio beacons, the system comprising:
 a plurality of emergency radio beacons configured to transmit emergency signals and also configured to receive remote interrogation signals and remote activation signals, the emergency radio beacons being associated each with a user located somewhere in the world; 
 at least one remote monitoring centre, situated somewhere in the world, the remote monitoring centre being configured for initiating said remote interrogation signals and remote activation signals for assessing respectively the status and location of the emergency radio beacons associated with said users; and 
 a satellite system configured to receive signals from and transmit signals to the at least one remote monitoring centre, and also configured to receive signals from and transmitting signals to at least one of the emergency radio beacons; 
 wherein each of the emergency radio beacons comprises a transmitter, a receiver, a control means, and a positioning module, the emergency radio beacon being operable in each of a storage mode, a constant standby mode, a remote low-power interrogation mode and a powered-up emergency mode; 
 the control means being operable by its associated user for manually changing the mode of operation of the emergency radio beacon between the storage mode, the constant standby mode and the powered-up emergency mode; and 
 the control means also being configured to: 
 when in the constant standby mode, receive the remote interrogation signals from the satellite system for remotely changing the mode of operation of the emergency radio beacon between the constant standby mode and the remote low-power interrogation mode wherein a system diagnostic check is performed to verify an operational status of the emergency radio beacon with the remote monitoring centre; and 
 when in the constant standby mode, receive the remote activation signals from the satellite system for remotely changing the mode of operation of the emergency radio beacon between the constant standby mode and the powered-up emergency mode wherein emergency signals with spatial positioning data from the positioning module are transmitted to the remote monitoring centre. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control means is also configured to provide spatial positioning data to the emergency radio beacon for transmission as part of a response to the interrogation signals when in the remote low-power interrogation mode. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control means is also configurable with a predetermined geo-fence, said control means being configured to change the emergency radio beacon to the powered-up emergency mode should the emergency radio beacon move outside the geo-fence, as determined by said positioning module. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control means includes a transducer configured to monitor a predetermined aspect of a vessel or said associated user. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined aspect is selected from: a human physiology-related measurement of said associated user and/or an operational characteristic of said vessel. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency radio beacon is selected from a group consisting of: an EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radio beacon), a PLB (personal locator beacon), an ELT (emergency location transmitter), and a SEPIRB (submarine EPIRB). 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control means is also configured to encode the spatial positioning data for transmission as part of the emergency signal. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning module includes a global navigation satellite system (GNNS) module. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver includes a radio frequency receiver configured to receive the activation signal in a frequency allocated for satellite transmission systems. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency radio beacon is enclosed in a sealed and impact-resistant housing to prevent the ingress of moisture and/or dirt. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency radio beacon also includes an audible and/or visual indicator that is activated upon receipt of the activation signal as an indicator to the user of the emergency radio beacon. 
     
     
       12. A method for remote activation of emergency radio beacons for locating a potentially distressed or lost user of one of said emergency radio beacons, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of emergency radio beacons configured to transmit emergency signals and also configured to receive remote interrogation signals and remote activation signals, the emergency radio beacons being associated each with a user located somewhere in the world; 
 providing at least one remote monitoring centre, situated somewhere in the world, the remote monitoring centre being configured for initiating said remote interrogation signals and remote activation signals for assessing respectively the status and location of the emergency radio beacons associated with said users; 
 providing a satellite system configured to receive signals from and transmit signals to the at least one remote monitoring centre, and also configured to receive signals from and transmitting signals to at least one of the emergency radio beacons; 
 providing each of the emergency radio beacons with a transmitter, a receiver, a control means, and a positioning module, and each emergency radio beacon being operable in each of a storage mode, a constant standby mode, a remote low-power interrogation mode and a powered-up emergency mode; 
 allowing any one or more of the users to manually change the mode of operation of the emergency radio beacon between the storage mode, the constant standby mode and the powered-up emergency mode; and 
 allowing the at least one remote monitoring centre to remotely change the mode of operation of the emergency radio beacon between the constant standby mode and the remote low-power interrogation mode wherein a system diagnostic check is performed to verify an operational status of the emergency radio beacon with the remote monitoring centre; and 
 allowing the remote monitoring centre to remotely change the mode of operation of the emergency radio beacon between the constant standby mode and the powered-up emergency mode wherein emergency signals with spatial positioning data from the positioning module are transmitted to the remote monitoring centre. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , also comprising a step of transmitting spatial positioning data to the remote monitoring centre when a system diagnostic check is performed. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , also including activating the emergency radio beacon should the emergency radio beacon move outside a pre-configured geo-fence, as determined by said positioning module. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , also including monitoring a predetermined aspect of a vessel or said associated user. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , also including selecting the said predetermined aspect from: a human physiology-related measurement of said associated user and/or an operational characteristic of said vessel. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , also including selecting the emergency radio beacon from a group consisting of: an EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radio beacon), a PLB (personal locator beacon), an ELT (emergency location transmitter), and a SEPIRB (submarine EPIRB). 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , also including encoding the spatial positioning data for transmission as part of the emergency signal. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , also including operating said receiver at a frequency allocated for satellite transmission systems for receiving said activation signals. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , also including activating an audible and/or visual indicator upon receipt of the activation signal as an indicator to the user of the emergency radio beacon.